Bullet Train Update

Jump on board at public meeting for high-speed train from Dallas to Houston

If you're a Dallas-Fort Worth resident interested in learning more about the high-speed rail project between Dallas and Houston, you'll get your chance on Tuesday.

A meeting seeking input from the public will take place October 21, from 4:30 to 8 pm, at the Dallas Infomart (1950 N. Stemmons Fwy.). Dallas is one of six cities where public meetings are being held by the Federal Railroad Administration and TxDOT.

The October 21 meeting will kick off with an open house, followed by a 30-minute presentation and an hour of public comment.

The two agencies are preparing an environmental impact statement for the 240-mile high-speed rail project from Dallas to Houston proposed by the Texas Central High-Speed Railway, a private company that has been developing plans for the train system since 2009.

Using the same Japanese bullet train model as the one that connects Tokyo and Osaka, Texas Central says the train would reach speeds of 205 miles per hour and complete the Dallas-Houston route in just 90 minutes.

The company plans to raise $10 billion in private capital to fund the line, which would provide an alternative to flying or driving on I-45.

The October 21 meeting will kick off with an open house from 4:30 to 6:30 pm, followed by a 30-minute presentation and an hour of public comment. The hearing comes in the midst of the project's environmental impact study, which will examine construction and operation effects of a high-speed rail system. The study will include an evaluation of the presumed method (a sealed high-speed rail corridor) as well as alternatives.

After Dallas, federal and state authorities will hold meetings along the proposed route in Corsicana, Teague, Bryan, Hunstville and Houston. In a statement, officials said they welcomed comments "regarding alternative alignments and station locations, as well as any significant social, economic or environmental impacts" related to the rail project.

The privately funded Texas Central Railway would connect DFW and Houston, cutting travel time to only 90 minutes.

Central Rail high-speed bullet train rail

Photo courtesy of JR Central

The privately funded Texas Central Railway would connect DFW and Houston, cutting travel time to only 90 minutes.

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2 Texas campgrounds made the list of best places to camp in America

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Two Texas campground were just ranked among the best in America for 2025: Galveston's Stella Mare RV Resort in Galveston and Neches Bluff Overlook Campground in Davy Crockett National Forest.

For its 2025 Best Places to Camp Regional Awards, campground review platform The Dyrt combed through the most highly rated and favorably reviewed campgrounds across its website. Campgrounds were sorted into six regions: Central, Midwest, Mountain, Northeast, Pacific, and Southeast.

Stella Mare RV Resort ranked No. 6 on the The Dyrt's ranking of the best campgrounds in the Central region. The coastal resort is about 300 miles south from Dallas, or about a 4.5-hour drive.

Stella Mare offers 195 different RV sites just steps away from the beach and is pet friendly, making it an ideal summer vacation destination for families that want to spend as much time as possible near the shore. Campsite rates range between $39-$598 per night.

Stella Mare RV Resort Stella Mare is a great destination for families.Photo courtesy of The Dyrt

Other amenities provided by the resort include high-speed Wi-Fi, 30-50-amp service, two dog parks, barbecue grills, a heated outdoor pool, splash pad, hot tub, and a 3,000-square-foot observation deck. Stella Mare also hosts weekly events such as craft activities, bingo, and more.

In one review, a returning guest praised the resort's cleanliness and the attentive staff.

"We have visited Stella Mare every December for 4 years now. This last winter we stayed for 2 months and really enjoyed Galveston," the reviewer said. "The campground is well maintained. The staff is super friendly. They have events for all ages multiple times a week including kid and adult only crafts, candy bar bingo, wine night, s'mores, and golf cart parades for holidays."

Thrifty campers will enjoy staying at Neches Bluff Overlook Campground, which ranked as the No. 8 best campground in the Central Region. Neches Bluff Overlook is a free campground located in the Davy Crockett National Forest, which is about 150 miles southeast of Dallas.

Neches Bluff is a primitive campground that only offers "minimal amenities," according to The Dyrt, which means campers will have to rely on their own preparedness if they want to spend several nights in the East Texas forest. The campground operates on a first-come, first-serve basis, and guests are welcome to pick their own site and "create [their] own adventure."

One of the most stunning features of Neches Bluff is the panoramic views of the forest from the overlook, according to reviewer Rachel H.

“There was a creek nearby that we hiked up and down, even found what appeared to be a natural spring feeding the creek," wrote Rachel. "We used the creek as our water supply, and the water was delicious. Lots of cool rocks, and even found a couple snail shells. 10/10 would definitely go again and explore more. The overlook is so pretty, and honestly, this place gave us the perfect camping experience."

The top 10 best places to camp in the Central Region, according to The Dyrt, are:

No. 1 – The Wall, South Dakota
No. 2 – Scoria Pit, North Dakota
No. 3 – Buffalo Gap, South Dakota
No. 4 – Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park Campground, North Dakota
No. 5 – Big Pine Campground, South Dakota
No. 6 – Stella Mare RV Resort, Texas
No. 7 – Hackberry Hollow Campground - Indian Cave State Park, Nebraska
No. 8 – Neches Bluff Overlook Campground - Davy Crockett National Forest, Texas
No. 9 – Territory Route 66 RV Park and Campgrounds, Oklahoma
No. 10 – Wilson State Park Campground, Kansas

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